Rolling Stone Awards announce 2013 winners!

Perth psych rockers Tame Impala have started the year with a bang, taking out Album of the Year at the 4th Annual Rolling Stone Awards. In a tight field that included releases by Sarah Blasko, Dirty Three, Hilltop Hoods, Paul Kelly and Urthboy, Tame Impala’s Lonerism was judged the finest record of 2012.

Celebrating the best in Australian entertainment in 2012, the awards were voted for by a panel of 40 industry professionals, from performers to managers, journalists to booking agents, musicians to TV personalities. They were hosted by the Cruel Sea/Beasts of Bourbon/the Dark Horses frontman Tex Perkins, and featured a performance by Owl Eyes, as well as sets from DJs MINX and Leah Mencel, winners of the She Can DJ competition 2011 and 2012 respectively.

Legendary rocker Jimmy Barnes was on hand to present Michael Gudinski of The Mushroom Group with the Rolling Stone Award, which recognises an outstanding career-long contribution to popular culture. Previous winners have included Cold Chisel and Paul Kelly.

Other big winners on the night were Parkway Drive (Live Act of the Year), Chet Faker (Best Independent Release) and The Presets (Single of the Year for “Ghosts”, as voted for by the readers of Rolling Stone).

The full list of winners is:

The Rolling Stone Award: Michael GudinskiBest Independent Release: Chet Faker, Thinking In TexturesActor of the Year: Ben Mendelsohn, Killing Them SoftlyInternational Act of the Year: Jack WhiteAlbum of the Year (sponsored by Rekorderlig Cider): Tame Impala, LonerismLive Act of the Year (sponsored by Corona): Parkway DriveSingle of the Year (Readers’ Choice, sponsored by Patron): The Presets, “Ghost”Best New Talent (sponsored by Ultimat Vodka): The MedicsMusic Video of the Year: Gotye, “Easy Way Out” (directed by Darcy Prendergast)

The winners will be celebrated in the March issue of Rolling Stone, on sale February 6th.